the fotherinton inheritance, part 18

by heathcote parkman sternwall

illustrations by penmarq studios and palomine studios

chapters 123 - 128 of 156

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123. a few drops of rain "considering the time you have expended on this matter," ternwhistle continued cautiously, "i must confess i am surprised by your decision." "time?" laughed mr barbourforth. "i have nothing but time. i have determined that too many people are now involved, that secrecy can not much longer prevail, and it is just not worth it to me." mr barbourforth had brushed aside ternwhistle's first enquiry as to the documents in his possession, but a curiously emboldened ternwhistle returned to the charge. "but, sir, surely someone will be interested in the singular documents you possess." "no doubt, no doubt," mr barbourforth replied absently. he looked out the window. the day had turned overcast. a few drops of rain fell on the window. * 124. ternwhistle emboldened "perhaps," ternwhistle continued, "if you do not wish to make use of these documents, someone else might." mr barbourforth turned his attention from the window. "did you have a particular person in mind?'" his gaze narrowed. "has anyone contacted you in the matter? someone besides myself?" blinking rapidly, ternwhistle plunged boldly forward. "no, sir, i was thinking i might make use of them myself." "you!" "yes, sir, i thought you might give me the documents in lieu of my fee." "what!" mr barbourforth laughed. * 125. curiosity and representation nettled by the little man's jocular - though not quite sneering - reference to the inheritance as a "folly" - the orphan paused before making her reply. "and you, sir, are you a journalist yourself?" he nodded. "i am, indeed." "and if you do not mind satisfying my perhaps intrusive curiosity - but surely, a person whose profession is intrusiveness might take a charitable view - what journal do you represent?" "ha, ha! that is very well said! ha, ha! quite to the point. i perceive that you were not ignored when the forthright manners were handed out! by thunder, it's jolly to see how plainspoken young ladies are these days! indeed it is!" "that is all very well, sir, but as you are so pleased by what you term my forthrightness, perhaps you will be so kind as to requite it by telling me which journal or newspaper you represent." the little man smiled. "which do you represent?" * 126. a dream oblivion mercifully descended on garland and she fell asleep. she dreamed she was walking through the grounds of madwood, which in the dream were not a blasted wasteland but an enchanted forest of tall green trees and shaded pathways. the forest stretched on and on. she needed to reach the end of it but could not. she needed to reach the edge of the forest before she could return to the house where grandmother's will would be read. the leaves on the trees turned red and began to fall... * 127. storm clouds "my goodness," thought arboreta as she saw the storm clouds gathering, " i hope pothers has no problems on the road." pothers was the ancient chauffeur that arboreta had dispatched to the train station to pick up the journalist from the city. the journalist whose imminent arrival she had not confided to anyone. * 128. the wisdom of experience "quite the schemer, aren't yer, squire? well, let me just say, i think you are making this a deal too complicated. a deal too complicated indeed." valentine hesitated. "well, i defer to your hard-won expertise. but, look here - " he pointed to the pub's small window, on which raindrops could be seen streaming. "it's getting quite dark now." gobbins laughed. "a dark day aren't the same as a dark night, trust me i know. i say, wait until proper dark, there's a good gentleman." valentine made as if to rise. "very well then, i will meet you back here when darkness has fallen." " that's not very comradely, squire. i was thinking we could drink the afternoon away." * chapters 129 - 136

the fotherinton inheritance, part 17

by heathcote parkman sternwall

illustrations by penmarq studios and palomine studios

chapters 115 - 122 of 156

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115. termination of interest "knowledge," opined mr barbourforth, "is a dangerous thing, especially when it may not be true." ternwhistle, who had been set at his ease by the surprisingly affable barbourforth and offered a cup of tea on his arrival, nodded politely. his brain still fogged from his nocturnal descent into depravity, he was attempting to digest the startling information he had been greeted with - namely, that barbourforth was terminating his interest in the fotherinton inheritance. "but what about the documents, sir?, " ternwhistle managed to ask. * 116. a polite enquiry "could you direct me to madwood, sir?" the orphan politely asked the little man. there was, she thought, no point in dissembling her destination. as it was almost certainly his destination also, whether he had actually been following her or not. "do you mean can i actually point you in the direction?" the little man laughed, and the top hat on his head, which did not seem to fit him perfectly, wobbled slightly. he looked around, and the orphan followed gaze. all around was desolation - desolation, which, in the bleak morning light, carried not the slightest hint of romance. "no need of that." * 117. main force "how are we to get the documents?" lieutenant valentine corgrave raised his eyebrows. "by taking them, of course. by main force, if need be." "ah." gobbins looked around. "so that's it, squire." "what else would it be? my dear fellow, you didn't think i was recruiting you for your strategic insights, did you?" "'main force' sounds so genteel, squire." coggins lowered his voice. "are we talking murder here?" "events take their course." * 118. frankness "no need of that, " the little man repeated. "i have no more idea of the direction than you do. but," he added, "i have a car coming to pick me up and take me there." he looked around. "not that i see any sign of it. tell me, are you going to madwood to enquire after the inheritance - the treasure?" what was the point of denying it? "i am," the orphan replied. * 119. awareness "get on with you, squire. it's not so easy as all that. or as commonly done as some seem to think." "i'm aware of that." * 120. a celebrated personage "unless i am greatly mistaken, you must be the celebrated miss davis, from the new york federal-democrat." "i beg your pardon?" * 121. mistaken identity "evidently you have mistaken me for someone else." "really? who but a journalist would investigate this folly?" * 122. game "you take a deal for granted, lieutenant. a deal for granted, indeed." "look here, are you game or not? if not, just say so, and we will be quits." "oh, i'm game." * chapters 123 - 128

the fotherinton inheritance, part 16

by heathcote parkman sternwall

illustrations by penmarq studios and palomine studios

chapters 108 - 114 of 156

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108. arrival as the orphan stepped down from the train, it occurred to her that she had not given any thought as to how she would proceed from the station to the fotherintons’ home at madwood. the “station” deemed to consist only of a sign saying “wedgewhistle” and nothing else. there was no station house, certainly no station master, not even a bench. and no persons in sight from whom she could enquire as to directions. she saw something about a hundred feet away that looked like a path, so she supposed she might as well take it. she was glad now that in her haste she had brought no luggage, except her large purse. she heard the train pull out. she turned and watched it disappear down the track. she heard a voice behind her. she turned and saw the little man who had shared the compartment with her. * 109. a curious reassurance nothing surprised her any more. in fact, it seemed quite logical that he had gotten off. he must have debarked on the other side of the train. he smiled at her. his smile, which had so repelled her on the train, she now found somewhat reassuring, as otherwise she would have been completely alone. * 110. renewed acquaintance “la, miss, what a surprise.” * 111.documents “treasure beyond the wildest dreams of men - is that what you are trying to tell me, squire?” gobbins squinted at valentine over the top of his glass. “well, not exactly beyond the wildest dreams, perhaps. but a nice haul, a nice haul for one with the nerve to take it.” “can i ask you a question, squire?” “certainly.” “have you been smoking opium?” “ha, ha! weii, between friends, i enjoy a pipe from time to time when i can afford one. but i assure you that it is not the case that this matter is but a fever dream.” “no?” “there are documents. documents i have seen with my unclouded eyes - “ valentine sighed. “but which i have not been able to hold in my hands or seize.” “hmm. so who does have them? “ “a fellow named barbourforth, from montagu square.” “so if this barbour fellow has the documents , why don’t he make use of them himself?’ * 112. an agreement “why does barbourforth not make use of them himself?” valentine smiled at gobbins. “an excellent question. a question that shows your perspicacity.” “i thought so. but what is the answer to my perspicacious question?” “the answer is that mr barbourforth is not the right age.” “the right age for what?” “the right age to play the part of the claimant of the will he has in his possession.” “ah. ah.” gobbins nodded sagely. “and you are?” “i am. or more precisely, i was. we had an agreement, barbourforth and i.” * 113. a denial “justice will not be served by this proceeding.” * 114. despair lying on her bed in her little room, after her seeing her guest on his way, garland tried to pull herself together. what a fool she had been to confide in a person virtually a stranger to herself, though known to grandmother. were all her hopes now dashed? * chapters 115 - 122

the fotherinton inheritance, part 15

by heathcote parkman sternwall

illustrations by penmarq studios and palomine studios

chapters 101 - 107 of 156

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101. plain talk "understand me, squire. if i go in with you we go in fifty-fifty. complete equals. i'm not your bloody batman any more." valentine took another sip of his ale. "why, of course, old fellow, no need to belabor the point. i have been out of the regiment and out in the street now for almost two years now. if i -ah - continue to dress a bit more elegantly than yourself it is only for show. to fool people, which is something i need do on a regular basis. i am as much on the bum as you are, maybe more so." valentine smiled. "as i don't really know your circumstances, do i?" "ah," gobbins replied. "i think you can see my circumstances well enough, squire." he rapped his finger on the table. " all right then, what exactly is this business about?" * 102. frustration "do you not want to hear the rest of what i have to say?" garland stammered. her guest smiled patronizingly. * 103. a voice for moderation "calm yourself, gwyneth." * 104. no shilly-shallying "behind every fortune, they say, is a great crime." "get on with it, squire." * 105. a charming landscape how lovely the day is, thought the orphan, as she looked out the window of the train at the passing landscape. from the distance afforded by the high embankment on which the tracks ran , it presented a very picture of bucolic charm. how i could enjoy it if i were not on this ridiculous wild goose chase - she checked her thoughts. she did not wish to surrender to the despair of the previous night. and, ridiculous as it might be, she could not help feeling that the little man seated across from her in the compartment could read her mind. the little man smiled at her. "a lovely scene, is it not?" he addressed her with unseemly familiarity. he had indeed been reading her mind! the orphan blushed. * 106. moonshine "unless you have something else to add , miss, i must respectfully express the opinion that this is all moonshine." * 107. a forthright man "thank you, sir," garland managed to say with some composure, "for your forthrightness. i am sorry to have troubled you." "not at all. forthrightness is my stock in trade." * chapters 108 - 114

the fotherinton inheritance, part 14

by heathcote parkman sternwall

illustrations by penmarq studios and palomine studios

chapters 94 - 100 of 156

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94. good fellowship do me the honor, squire, of standing me a drink at yonder pub. it has better fare than you might think from the look of it." valentine corgrave - for such was the true cognomen of "kelvin armistead" and as such we will henceforth refer to him - laughed. * 95. jasper procrastinates "have you not considered," jasper addressed arboreta, "the consequences of not waiting until the full moon has passed before reading grandmother's will." "jasper, the will has been in mr garwood's possession for many a moon, full or otherwise. it is whatever it is, and i am sure there are no surprises. it will not change because we wait or do not wait," arboreta replied with as much patience as she could summon. "and do you really believe that?" * 96. accosted "pardon me, miss, but do you mind if i sit here?" the orphan's interlocutor was small, elderly, and dapper, with a long nose and a black top hat thirty years out of fashion. as the train swayed, he kept the top hat in his hand as a shield between himself and the orphan . "not at all, sir, please make yourself comfortable." the train was fifteen minutes out of the station , and the orphan had been expecting the man, or someone like him, since she had taken her seat in the second class compartment. surely it had been too much to expect that she could travel down to wedgewhistle, the closest train station to madwood, without somebody following her? and that whoever followed her would not think her so green that they could openly accost her without her suspecting anything ? the little man took his seat across from her. * 97. mutual profit "you know, gobbins, there is really no need to play the slyboots with me, and think you have to finagle me into anything." valentine took a sip of the ale he had purchased for himself. it was not half bad. "no," he continued, " i think this may be both our lucky days, and that we can profit from each other's endeavors. "yer don't say." goblbns eyed the former officer and gentleman warily, and took a hearty swig of his own ale. "and might yer have any particular endeavors in mind, squire?" " i do." valentine looked over his shoulder. * 98. the romantic side "all this is very well, miss," garland's visitor assured her, after he he had finished his tea and she had finished her account, "but it seems - a bit farfetched. a bit - on the romantic side, shall we say." garland's face fell. she had not expected this. "but, sir!" she cried. "consider the possibilities! " * 99. on the way "unless i was misinformed, miss" the orphan's compartment mate addressed her, "this train does not stop until folke-on-turpin." "i do not really know, sir," she replied. "i am only concerned with my own destination, and did not enquire as to the stops on the way." * 100. a sincere hope "my sincerest hope - my sincerest hope - is that no matter what is contained in the will, that everything will go on as before - exacty as before, as if grandmother were still alive." such was aunt gerontia's first pronouncement on her reappearance on the verandah, which she had been absent from since the old woman's demise. "i trust we all hope so," arboreta replied diplomatically. * chapters 101 - 107